I was inspired to write this post today because I think it is an important lesson to get out to my friends and blog readers. Have you ever had someone do something really nice for you that you just happened to miss? I have had it happen to me numerous times.
This group of friends that I have been getting to know online is pretty darn cool. I have read a lot of interesting, informative and entertaining material that they have published. I have linked out from within blog posts to some of that material on those websites. Some of those people have linked back to my material that they like. (Thank you thank you thank you thank you..hugs hugs hugs)
I am the kind of person who would rather give than receive. I feel better when I am giving of myself. If someone gives back to me after the fact, then it makes my gift all that much sweeter. That tells me that they really did appreciate what I did for them. I am sure you feel the same way about it. It is like giving a friend a Christmas present when they haven’t got you one. Would you rather be on the giving end or the receiving end? I would rather give than receive. If I got a gift without giving one in return, I would feel like I let the other person down. Silly I know, but true nonetheless.
There have been times that people have linked to me and it went unnoticed. If anyone ever links to me, please (please) shoot me an email or a DM on Twitter or something to let me know. I love all you guys. I do not want to miss the opportunity to say thank you and remind you how much I really do appreciate it. This business is all about links. Linking to each other using dofollow links with proper anchor text is one of the single best things we can do for each other. I never want to miss an opportunity to say thank you and to reciprocate in some way shape or form.
A lot of times I will get notified through the trackback on my blog. I also use Google alerts for monitoring my brand name. Still, things will slip through the cracks. I definitely don’t want your generosity to go unnoticed.
I suggest you let your other friends know about it too. Just drop them a little note that says – “Hey chic – just wanted to let you know that someone is talking about you” Then put the URL in there. Make up your own little note.
I don’t expect to be informed every time someone says something nice about me (if that ever actually happens-lol). There are plenty of little conversations that we might have in our small circles about certain people. That is cool. That is good karma. You don’t need to let anyone know about that stuff. But, a link is like receiving a nicely wrapped birthday gift. The least I would want to do is to just say thanks.
You might get one of these notes from me if I link to you. I do not expect anything in return. If I do it, I am doing it because I know that I do not like missing when someone does something nice for me. That is all.
What do you think? Any ideas or advice?
P.S. I don’t know if this is a great tactic to use with every blogger, especially those who are outside of your circle. In my circle though, I would appreciate it if you guys would let me know. Just shoot me a quick email or drop a note on my contact page. Thanks.
No related posts.
Hey Kathy,
Good post. Yes, I do have advice! People using WordPress should practice linking directly to a specific post rather than the base URL. The trackback feature only works when linked to a post, rather than a page or the home page.
Deep linking is the best kind, anyway, so everyone should practice just linking to a post they like or the latest post or something, and that way the receiving blogger will be notified.
Additionally, it’s better for the blogger who linked out as well, because the trackback will most likely be displayed as a link back to their site. More potential trafific!
Luv all around.
Cheers,
Tia
Great advice Tia. Thank you for contributing solid advice to the post. I really appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing, Tia! I didn’t know that!
I agree with you. I find it embarasing too when someone links to me and I don’t notice it. I think that it’s also important to just contact bloggers from time to time. Commenting does establish a relationship but it never takes this relationship to the next level, and that’s where email comes in.
Just so you know I’ll soon link to you :) Be prepared :P
Make sure you let me know when you link to me. I agree that it is important to just stop by and say hi once in a while if you want to maintain even a basic relationship with someone.
I am old school and still really like email. (lol)
Hi Kathy,
The busier we get the more likely we are to miss what others have done for us. I believe the best way forward is just to pay it forward. If we are all going out of our way to do what needs doing and support others who feel the same way whatever we might miss someone else is sure to do.
I would love to have you and any bloggers you know join us in collaborating for a better world. Details in the post I’ll select for CommentLuv.
Hey Gail,
I agree that paying it forward is the right thing to do. I just want my circle of friends to know that I appreciate them and their help. If I ever miss a “Thank you” it is not because I am ungrateful. It is because I didn’t find out about it.
Hey Kathy good post and I totally agree I want to know if anyone links to me and do feel a little ungrateful if I did not notice it. Also thanks to Tia for the good info there…..I don’t have any advice except that I agree with contacting those in your circle if you link.
I think pretty much everyone feels the same way. It is nice to know who is doing favors for you. That way you know who really likes your stuff and who is generous enough with their time and energy to help you out a little.
Definitely some good blogger etiquette. I’ve been linked to and I usually catch it but I think one time I didn’t until I saw were some traffic was coming from.
If I link to you, I’ll be sure to drop you at least a DM :-)
I wasn’t thinking it was etiquette because you are letting someone know that you did something nice for them. Usually those things are done without necessarily telling them. It is just that in this business, I see things a little differently. You have to know who who is helping you.
That was great advice. Still getting to grips with the whole linking thing. I have had some people link to me and I’ve made sure I thank them. If I visit a blog after the person has commented on mine I go via their blog post they have put on my site. Hope that helps with the linking. Still got heaps to learn about all this.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia,
Don’t stress out over the learning curve. Just remember to practice what you read about. Take your time and learn as much as possible. There is a lot to learn.
You are 100% correct.. It is always good to tell people that you appreciate their help and friendship. It is surely going to help in building strong relationships..
Offtopic: Can you tell me why you have just one post on your Blog’s homepage? Is there any special reason for that?
Thanks Rohit.
I only put one post on my homepage because I want readers to stick with one topic at a time. Plus, sometimes my posts get quite long.
I mention, tweet, and retweet because I just want to do it. I have yet to feel unappreciated for doing it and it could be I think the way I am … meaning I already assume the person will know and they appreciate it without a “thank you” tweet. I guess I don’t need or require a lot of attention/gratitude. I understand what you’re saying, however.
Have you heard of TweetOns http://www.tweetons.com/, you can set up an automatic response to anyone who mentions you whether directly or retweet. You can let them know that you will respond later with a more personal message. You will receive a notification in your email, if you choose.
Thanks for the tip Kissie. I am all about automation wherever possible. Plus that is one way you won’t forget to thank people. I will see how well it works.
Pingback: Follow Friday: Must-Read Posts and My Dad on Facebook
I do a weekly round-up post, and I was happy with it that I was spreading some love. But after reading this post I realized the mistake that I do. I neither send any trackback to that post on the other blog nor so I notify the blogger that I have linked to one of his/her posts. Well, from the next one I will surely send trackbacks to the posts and take the extra trouble to notify them on Twitter … (and your post is sure to get a place in that list :) ). Thanks again for the reminder to make other bloggers know that I like them and their blog.
Glad you got something from the post Sourav. See you around.
There are several tools you can use.
backtweets.com- Back Tweet searches all links from Twitter to your blog.
One method of checking for incoming links is to use link popularity services such as Link Popularity or to use Google Blogsearch.
Thanks for the tips Rose. I will check them out. You have had some fun on your blog recently I see.
Yes, I most certainly have.
KB,
Since, I’ve learned from Tia, to link within a post, that’s what I’ll be doing form now on.
I’m like you..I enjoy giving and sharing other people’s content. When I first started my site I was sharing my articles quite a bit, but now since I’ve moved around the web a little, I don’t share my articles nearly as much as I use to. I’m finding that fellow bloggers and friends do it for me. If I never to others I don’t believe that other people would be passing on my articles like they do.
It is always better to give than to receive. We never know where our blessing will come from.
Great post!
Take care,
Evelyn
Hey Evelyn,
Karma does work wonders. What goes around comes around. Seems like that is the case with most of the people I hang around with online.
Hi Kathy, this is actually something that I was just thinking about. Some people don’t monitor trackbacks, and sometimes trackbacks just don’t get picked up if the person is using a different blogging platform than your own. I bet 95% of people would appreciate a little note letting them know that they were linked to or talked about from another article. Plus I’m a huge believer in blogging karma.
Hey Brian,
I agree that most people would probably like to know every time someone links to them. Whether it is good or bad you would want to know, at least I would.
Thanks for stopping by.
Kathy,
I knew we had a lot in common! I feel the same way about feeling badly if I don’t acknowledge when someone has done something nice for me. It’s just so difficult to keep up with everything. I know I missed a lot of opportunities to thank people when I first started blogging. I especially did a really poor job on Twitter. I’m just now starting to get a rhythm going there.
Great tip on Google alerts! Sometimes that’s the only way I find out that someone has linked to an article of mine.
I think you’re great about thanking, tweeting and acknowledging other bloggers. You set a very good example.
Thanks for the kind words Sherryl.
I apologized publicly in a couple of different spots for my lack of proficiency with Twitter. I wasn’t sure if I missed any thank you’s or not, but I wanted everyone to know that I use Twitter sporadically and might have missed someone who retweeted something of mine. I don’t much care for the standard Twitter website interface. I have been playing around with software that helps organize things better. Thanks go to everyone who has recommended these little Twitter tools.
I usually stop by a persons blog and let them know I’ve commented, or I’ll send them an email or tweet them. At times, your blogging platform might not catch the trackbacks to your site, and some people use other sources like offline blog editors to do most of their writing. I use Google Alert too, it’s extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing.
I thought about this when I wrote my post on 10 blogs I wanted to recommend. Most of the time you find that if you mention a particular post that people will find out about it through the WP dashboard, but it doesn’t always notify you if just the blog name has been mentioned. I thought it would look self serving if I notified everyone that I had mentioned them, so I didn’t go that route. Instead, I encouraged folks to visit those blogs for themselves, and I noticed that a few of them mentioned my post to them; that was nice.
I do use Google Alerts, though, and that’s a good way of keeping up with things like this.
I don’t think it is self serving to let people know that you linked to them. Just let them know that you don’t expect anything in return. You just wanted them to know.
Pingback: How Can Entrepreneurs and Sole Proprietors Help Each Other?